Manoj Jarange Patil, Maratha Quota Protest Leader, Ends Hunger Strike as Demands are Accepted
News from the source of Reader Wall indicates that Manoj Jarange Patil, the protest leader demanding Maratha quota reforms, has ended his hunger strike. His decision was made after gathering assurances that the Maharashtra government would fully embrace all of the concerns presented by him on behalf of his community.
The Protest and its Resolutions
In Mumbai, Patil had been protesting since yesterday, advocating for reserved spots for the Maratha community in jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. His plea included requests for the issuance of Kunbi certificates to all Marathas and free education from kindergarten through postgraduate levels. In addition, he wanted specific job openings within the government set aside for Maratha candidates.
A total of 37 lakh Kunbi certificates, which identify individuals as members of the OBC, have already been issued, with expectations of the figure increasing to up to 50 lakh, Patil indicated. He had also warned of a substantial protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai if his demands were not met, emphasizing they were prepared to reveal their might if the government refused.
However, according to protesters, two ministers from Maharashtra engaged with Patil on Friday evening, and their energies were not wasted as the government admitted to all their demands.
Awaiting the Official Government Response
As per sources at Reader Wall, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is anticipated to make an appearance at the protest site and hold a meeting with Manoj Patil promptly at 9 am.
After the conclusion of their hunger strike, a victory march in Vashi has been scheduled later by the Maratha leader. The Maratha community’s plea for reservation has been a crucial discussion point between leaders of the community and the state government.
Past Legal Rulings
The Maratha community’s reservation demands recall May 5, 2021, when the Supreme Court made a critical ruling. Reservations for the Maratha community in colleges, higher educational institutions, as well as jobs, were struck down by the Court. The judgment noted that there was no justifiable reason to breach the 50 percent limit for reservations when granting these to the Maratha community.
This recent victory for the Maratha community under Patil’s leadership, however, shines a light on the persistence of their cause and their successful strides towards achieving equality and representation.
